The following are requirements for livestock arriving at our premises:

PRODUCERS SHOULD SEND CLEAN LIVESTOCK TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE BY FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE BELOW:

Keep animals off land which can cause gross contamination eg muddy fields.

Consider yarding of the animals during winter months, keeping the yards free of dirt, manure, faeces and debris.

House animals for a period prior to sending for slaughter, on ample bedding and good ventilation.

Clip / dag the animals if clegged.

Avoid occurrence of loose dung through good husbandly like use of anthelmintics, pasture rotation, correct stocking density, clean housing.

Pay attention to the type of feed given to animals prior to sending for slaughter, but ensuring the animal’s well-being is not compromised: avoid rich silage, new grass, potatoes, cabbage which result in greater amount of contamination of the coat.

Animals destined for slaughter should be transported in clean vehicles and provided with adequate bedding.

Cattle Identification:

Cattle moving off a holding to a slaughterhouse must be accompanied by a valid cattle passport.

All cattle born and reared in GB must be tagged in at least one ear

Cattle born on or after 1 January 1998 should have a tag in each ear.

Cattle must be tagged properly to be moved.

Single tagging :

Cattle born between 1 August 1996 and 31 December 1997 must be identified with at least one ear tag.

Double tagging:

Cattle born on or after 1 January 1998 must be identified with an approved ear tag in each ear, which show the same official identity.

One of these ear tags is considered the primary ear tag and the other, the secondary ear tag.

If the ear tag is made from two pieces, both sides must be printed and bear the Crown logo.

Primary ear tag:

The main ear tag, known in GB as the primary ear tag, is a distance readable yellow plastic two piece ear tag which requires specific information.

Information required on primary tag and not hand written:

Crown logo, followed by the letters ‘UK’ and the animal’s unique number which will consist of a six digit all numeric herd mark followed by a six digit unique animal code, the first digit of the animal code is a check digit to allow officials to check the code is correct, e.g. UK 345678 546169.

What keepers have to do

The following is a summary of what keepers must do when tagging and moving their sheep and goats. A table is provided below of the detailed guidance sent to all to registered sheep and goat keepers in December 2009.

Sheep

Sheep

Identification

Tag within 9 months of birth (6 months if kept housed overnight), or before they leave the holding of birth if sooner.

Breeding animals

Double tag – incl. one EID

Double tag (EID optional)

Lambs

One batch tag – (EID optional)

Kids

One batch tag (EID optional)

Movement Documents

Complete one each time animals move to a different holding (CPH)

From I January 2011 Include individual tag numbers for animals born from 2010 – unless they have a slaughter tag

From 31 December 2011 Include individual tag numbers for animals born before 2010 – unless moving direct to slaughter